What Sauce Goes Best with Shrimp and Crab Ravioli? A Guide to Pairing Sauces
Shrimp and crab ravioli is a culinary delight that combines two types of succulent seafood into one pasta pocket. The delicate sweetness of the crab and brininess of the shrimp create a perfectly balanced filling. But what sauce should you serve with this gourmet ravioli? The right sauce pairing can take your meal from good to incredible!
In this article, we will explore 10 delicious sauces that complement shrimp and crab ravioli wonderfully. Whether you prefer a rich alfredo, spicy arrabbiata or fresh pesto, there’s a sauce that will upgrade your ravioli experience. With so many options, you’re sure to find a new favorite pairing!
Tomato-Based Sauces
Tomato-based sauces are a natural fit for seafood pastas. The acidity of the tomato cuts through the richness of the filling for a bright, balanced flavor.
Marinara sauce is a classic choice with its blend of tomatoes, garlic olive oil and herbs. For added complexity, try vodka sauce. The addition of cream and vodka creates a velvety texture and subtle sweetness. Or go spicy with an arrabbiata sauce made with chili peppers and garlic. The heat enhances the sweetness of the crab perfectly.
Cream-Based SaucesLooking for utter decadence? Cream-based sauces take shrimp and crab ravioli over the top Alfredo sauce, with its parmesan, butter and heavy cream, provides a smooth, luxurious complement. Lemon brightens up a creamy sauce beautifully – try mixing in lemon juice and zest. Parmesan cream sauce is also delicious, with its nutty cheese flavor
Pesto Sauces
Herb-based pesto makes a fresh, vibrant pairing. Basil pesto is the standard, with its pine nuts, garlic, parmesan and olive oil. For more complexity, try sun-dried tomato pesto, kale pesto, or cilantro pesto. The herbs and acidity cut through the rich filling magnificently.
Butter and Oil SaucesNever underestimate the simplicity of a well-executed butter or olive oil sauce. Browned butter with sage allows the seafood to shine with its nutty depth Lemon garlic butter highlights the bright notes of the shrimp and crab A quality extra virgin olive oil and parmesan sauce lets the ravioli filling be the star.
Unique Creamy Concoctions
Why settle for one type of cream when you can combine two? Mascarpone and gorgonzola is a match made in heaven – the gorgonzola punch cuts through the sweet mascarpone. For spice lovers, mix sriracha into cream cheese for a kick. Another creamy combo is cream cheese, mayo and lime juice, reminiscent of crab dip.
Asian-Inspired Sauces
Bring exciting new flavors to your shrimp and crab ravioli with Asian-inspired sauces. Stir together soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and garlic for a quick teriyaki sauce. Peanut sauce, using peanut butter, soy sauce and other Asian ingredients, is a crowd-pleaser. Sweet and sour sauce, made with pineapple, vinegar and chili sauce, also pairs wonderfully.
Vegetable Puree Sauces
Don’t overlook making a sauce from fresh vegetable purees. Butternut squash, roasted red peppers and sundried tomatoes can be blended into sauces with olive oil, garlic, shallots and herbs. The possibilities are endless. The natural sweetness perfectly complements the filling.
White Wine Butter Sauces
A white wine butter sauce adds elegance to shrimp and crab ravioli. Cook shallots in butter, then add white wine and reduce. Finish with cream, lemon juice, salt and pepper for a refined yet easy sauce. For special occasions, use champagne! The effervescence brightens the sauce deliciously.
Homemade Alfredo Sauce
You can’t go wrong with a homemade alfredo for ultimate creaminess. Simmer heavy cream, then gradually stir in parmesan, butter, garlic powder, salt and white pepper. Keep the sauce on the thinner side to avoid overwhelming the pasta. Infuse flavors by adding sautéed mushrooms, spinach or sundried tomatoes.
In Conclusion
With so many sauce options for shrimp and crab ravioli, the possibilities are endless! Lean towards lighter sauces to let the filling shine, like fresh pestos, herb-infused olive oils, vegetable purees and white wine sauces. Or go decadent with a made-from-scratch alfredo or vodka cream sauce. The most important thing is choosing a sauce that excites your palate. With the perfect sauce pairing, your ravioli will be taken to new heights of flavor. Get creative with your sauce combinations and enjoy this gourmet pasta!
Ingredients for Pasta with Shrimp and Crab
Find the complete recipe at the bottom of this post in the printable recipe card.
- Pasta– I typically use spaghetti noodles for this recipe, but honestly, any pasta will work. Choose your favorite!!
- Olive oil- The robust flavor of olive oil compliments this shrimp and crab pasta recipe very well.
- Butter– The butter is used to amplify the rich flavor of the garlic and onion. Salted or unsalted butter will work.
- Mrs. Dash Seasoning– I used the tomato, basil, and garlic blend. You can find this at your local grocery store or online.
- Onion– Fresh onions are best. Yellow onions or white are my choice.
- Garlic– Freshly minced garlic give this pasta dish so much flavor.
- Shrimp– Precooked or fresh shrimp will work in this recipe, but just make sure the shrimp get cooked all the way through.
- Tomatoes– Canned diced tomatoes are used for this pasta recipe, but fresh tomatoes will work, too.
- Crab– Imitation crab meat is what I used for this recipe, but fresh crab meat is great if you live where it’s plentiful – go for the fresh!
- Parmesan Cheese– A wedge of Parmesan is best for freshly grated cheese, but pre-grated Parmesan is okay to use here if that is what you have.
Crab & Shrimp Pasta
This is one of my very favorite pasta recipes. Tender pasta cooked to perfection with cooked shrimp and imitation crab make a quick dinner that seafood lovers are sure to enjoy. Know what’s even better? Crab and shrimp pasta leftovers!
Butter, garlic, savory Parmesan, and tomatoes are ingredients that truly make this easy dinner recipe shine, and you’ll impress anyone you serve this recipe to. We eat seafood pretty often in our home. You can use either fresh or imitation crab cooked or uncooked shrimp.
Shrimp and Crab Ravioli in a Creamy Sauce
FAQ
What sauce goes with seafood ravioli?
Garlic butter sauce, lemon butter sauce, and white wine sauce for ravioli are the most popular choices. In this recipe, all of these flavors and warm, earthy sage combine for what I believe to be the best lobster ravioli sauce – buttery, bright, and wonderfully balanced.
What to serve with shrimp and crab ravioli?
- A green salad dressed in Italian Balsamic Vinaigrette or Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette.
- Roasted broccoli or asparagus.
- 2-Ingredient Italian Sugar Snap Peas.
- Creamed Peas.
- Amish Green Beans with Brown Butter.
- Wedge Salad.
What is the best sauce to use for ravioli?
Classic, Smooth Marinara Sauce
It’s one of the best sauces for ricotta and spinach ravioli. Ravioli on a bed of fresh marinara sauce garnished with parmesan cheese. It is technically marinara as it contains vegetables where tomato sauces called sugos or ragus may not include anything more than garlic or onion, if that.
What sauce goes with crab pasta?
The sauce for this pasta is a simple combination of butter, sliced garlic, lemon juice and a little of dry white wine or even rosé wine. I also add a grating of the Parmesan cheese at the end. Traditionally in Italy, cheese is never added to seafood pasta, but I think it works in this dish!